If "Pelo Malo Where?" T-shirts haven't made it into your social media feeds, you must be living under a huge (probably culturally homogeneous) rock! Meet the Latina Creator of Hause of Curls Orlando, FL, native Sherly Tavarez started a self-love movement in the fall of 2018 when she created the all too relatable T-shirt that preaches there is no such thing as bad hair. Latinas everywhere lost their minds. She never expected the incredible response she received and surely never expected to be launched into owning her very own apparel … [Read more...]
Feeling stuck? 7 ways to get out of a funk
They say the only thing you can count on in life is change but I think states of funk are pretty reliable too. You know, those times when you have a to-do list piling up but you don't have the strength to lift a finger. Or the times when you you're in deep pain and spend your days staring at the ceiling. Or the times when you sit in your car for an extra five or 10 minutes because you don't have the motivation to do even the things you want to do. Trust me, I've been there ... more often than I'd like to admit. But hey, this happens to … [Read more...]
Orlando’s Favorite Travel Instagrammers to Follow
Let's face it. Instagram is saturated with travel bloggers and digital nomads sharing the many beautiful places they've visited but very few stand out. Tons of these accounts are picture perfect but you don't know a thing about the person behind the profile. Social media was meant to be ... wait for it ... SOCIAL, so if you're not highlighting what makes you you, your interactions will be shallow and you won't be missed after you get unfollowed. 😂 To help you refresh your Insta feed, I partnered with some fellow Orlando bloggers to … [Read more...]
Northern Lights & More in Tromsø, Norway
Maybe I'm lucky or maybe Tromsø, Norway is the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights. For as long as I can remember, I've been dreaming about seeing the wonder that is the Aurora Borealis with my very own eyes. I was torn between Iceland and Norway when choosing my destination. A $300 Norwegian flight to Oslo quickly decided that for me. From there, only a ~$100 flight separated me from my Northern Lights paradise - just over 200 miles into the Arctic Circle. Northern Lights in Norway The Northern Lights are easiest … [Read more...]
Exploring the Dominican Republic in a Weekend
The Dominican Republic is one of the top Caribbean destinations, especially if you're looking for an all-inclusive resort getaway. I've been there ... and all-inclusives are great but I was looking for an entirely new experience this time. The thing is I missed out on so much simply by "enjoying" the resort experience. To be frank, it seemed as watered down as some of the beverages there. Do you really experience much more than the beach, a pool and a hotel room? I partnered with Spirit Airlines to explore another side of the … [Read more...]
New Spirit Airlines Routes Take Off from Orlando
CALLING ALL ORLANDOANS. IT'S TIME TO TRAVEL. via GIPHY Spirit Airlines recently announced 11 - ELEVEN - new routes from Orlando. That's right, it's their 25th anniversary but they're giving us the gift of MORE GO! I popped over to Google Flights to check out some of these low-cost roundtrip flights and found these gems: *Guatemala City, Guatemala for $180* *Cartagena, Colombia for $218* *St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands for $135* Headquartered in Miramar, FL, and flying in and out of six Florida airports, you might as … [Read more...]
Monster Jam Arena Tour Stops in Orlando for the First Time
Monster Jam is coming to town. But it's not just Monster Jam as you know it. Monster Jam Triple Threat, Monster Jam's arena tour, is hitting Orlando for the first time on Saturday, August 18! You won't want to miss this adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement and you won't even have to worry about the weather. If you've never been to Monster Jam, trust me, you will be entertained. See you at the Amway Center on 8/18? Don't miss this special deal: Save $5 off select seats for Monster Jam Triple Threat at the Amway Center … [Read more...]
Doing a Weekend in DC
I recently took a DC weekend trip for the first time since I was a kid. It was my birthday weekend, which also happened to be July 4th weekend so it was a great time to visit our nation's capital. Hellooo fireworks. We didn't plan too many things but rather improvised most of the trip. With all the Smithsonians to choose from, we weren't worried about running out of things to do. Based on that experience, here are the things you can't miss while in DC. Sunsets on the National Mall They're everything. The sunset was spectacular from … [Read more...]
Faith in Curls Curly Haircut Experience
If you're curly headed like me, you know the struggle of finding a stylist who loves styling curls and knows the art of a Curly Haircut. To our disadvantage, most stylists love to straighten and process hair. It's their craft. Society doesn't necessarily help either by suggesting you need "sleek" hair to look "polished." It's so important to have a stylist who not only knows how to style your hair type but who also encourages you to properly care for it. Curly Haircut by Faith in Curls In other words, just hit up Faith in Curls. Jarely … [Read more...]
Orlando Curly Hair Stylist Directory
I love encouraging naturally curly-haired ladies to embrace their curls and quit straightening their hair. A huge part of being able to rock your curls with confidence is to have a skilled naturally curly hair stylist to coach you through the process. You can look up do's and don'ts for curly hair online but there's nothing like walking into a salon and working with someone who understands your hair and what it takes to make them the best they can be. I know just about every curly girl has a haircut horror story and I want to help you … [Read more...]
Riding to Monster Energy Supercross
You've heard me talk about Monster Jam, which I got to check out last year but this year I'm trying something new. Instead of four ginormous tires, we're going with two way smaller tires - motorcycles! Monster Energy Supercross, the premier motorcycle racing event featuring the world's top riders, rides into Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on February 24, 2018, and if you know me at all, you know racing is in my blood. I'm excited to check this event out next week and with tickets starting at just $20, you can't beat it. Thinking about … [Read more...]
Dos & Don’ts for Naturally Curly Hair
I'm so happy to see the naturally curly hair movement that has emerged in recent years. I'll be honest. For years I thought I needed to "tame" my hair in ordered to be perceived as a "professional." But now that I'm over society's nonsense, I'm focused on making my curls as healthy as can be. Too many people give up on their curls and convince themselves they are too difficult to manage. The truth is that if you treat them well, they will behave. Promise. Pics or it didn't happen? Well... My naturally curly hair journey has been one … [Read more...]
The Secret to Backpack-Only Travel
When I tell my friends I only bring a backpack on most of my trips, they look at me like I'm crazy. Granted, I'm not one to wear a full face of makeup or blow dry my hair every day (or ever, really ...) but I've seen girls who do successfully backpack it for trips. Trust me, it's possible! I know you probably love your stuff and you probably want your grams to be picture perfect but do you want to lug your giant suitcase around on cobblestone, on crowded trains/buses or when you're sprinting to avoid missing your connecting flight? I don't … [Read more...]
7 Gift Ideas for Travelers
Travelers are a funny bunch. They often treasure experiences over things and raggedy souvenirs over the latest shiny object. This can make coming up with gift ideas for travelers a little difficult. But one of the items in this post might stick out to you as the perfect gift for the beloved traveler in your life. At least I hope so! Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this post. I may receive commission from any purchases made! Portable Charger(s) Because dead phones have no place during an adventure. A portable charger (or … [Read more...]
How to Find Cheap Flights with Google Flights
The number one travel goal I told myself I'd reach this year is seeing the northern lights (aka Aurora Borealis). I thought for sure I'd be going to Iceland to see them but a $300 RT flight from Orlando to Oslo convinced me to chase them in Norway instead. Cheap flights aren't that hard to find if you're using the right tools and you can probably find a flight to your dream destination for cheaper than you think. If you're wondering how I found such a cheap transatlantic flight or how I find cheap flights in general, the answer is Google … [Read more...]